It’s only been a little over 18 months since Weezer’s last release The White Album, but everyone’s favourite “nerd-rock” band from the ’90s is back again with a fresh recording. Although the band had plans to follow up with a record titled The Black Album, those songs have been kept back for future release and a whole new set of tracks were recorded, resulting in Pacific Daydream…
Opening gambit “Mexican Fender” kicks things off with a simple, chunky guitar riff backed by solid drums that soon gets our head nodding straight away. Seems like it’s pretty much Weezer 101 to start off then. However, the lyrics soon swing towards a more wizened, slightly sadder sound with “Beach Boys” and “Feels Like Summer”. After the first third of the album, it’s clear that no expense has been spared with the production value and arrangements as plenty of effects are utilised to really give a polished pop sound that’s quite separate from previous Weezer recordings. “Happy Hour” continues the theme of introspective ponderings as Rivers Cuomo sings of needing ‘happy hour for sad days’ but is followed up by “Weekend Woman”, which is more in keeping with the upbeat sing-along songs the band have crafted in the past.
Though the following songs “QB Blitz” and “Sweet Mary” start with a pleasant guitar melody, there’s a slightly odd almost Christmas-like feel at this point in the album, with layering of sleigh bells and xylophones which doesn’t really fit with what you expect from the Los Angeles-based band. There isn’t much more to say about the final third of the album, as it reverts back to the overly produced pop formula that’s been used so far.
The songs all have their own hooks and melodies which taken in isolation create perfectly listenable songs; it just sounds different to the Weezer you know. The simple crunchy electric guitar riffs have mostly been replaced with synths and the drums exchanged for programmed loops. This isn’t necessarily completely a bad thing. No one wants their favourite band to churn out the same album time after time, but to completely ignore the fun rock roots that is the selling point that made them a great band is somewhat strange.
In true Weezer fashion, the album is only ten songs long and only one track runs over the 4 minute mark, so it’s finished before you know it. Instead of the happy-go-lucky sound of being at the beach or jamming in a parent’s garage that Weezer have cultivated, there’s more of a wistful vibe to Pacific Daydream (not surprising really considering the album title). Not only that, but the slicker production has led to a more stylised pop music feel which doesn’t sit well on every track. This was none more evident than when fellow colleagues (unaware of who I was listening to) asked me why I had put on some boy band music! Ultimately though, the outline of the same strong songwriting and arrangements are still there, making Pacific Daydream a listenable album. Just expect a significant departure from past classics such as “Troublemaker”, “Hash Pipe”, “Buddy Holly”, “Keep Fishin’” (the list goes on….).
Author: Steve, Bristol Store
